A selective co-educational grammar school in Slough, Buckinghamshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,271 pupils on roll.
Burnham Grammar School
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At a glance
Burnham Grammar School is a co-educational 11-18 selective grammar school in Burnham, serving a Buckinghamshire community with a Slough postcode and a wide local reach. It sits within the Beeches Learning and Development Trust and has about 1,271 pupils on roll. The school builds its identity around the phrase Embrace Challenge, but the detail behind it is practical: responsible learning, preparation for the future, health and happiness, care for others and active citizenship.
The headteacher's welcome gives BGS a distinctive tone. It presents the school as academically ambitious but deliberately pastoral, with a diverse pupil body, strong relationships and a focus on positive mental health. The school also points to a newer building, upgraded facilities, industrial and corporate partners, and a curriculum enriched by careers work, volunteering, mentoring, sport, arts, academic events and charity activity.
The classroom offer is supported by the BGS Diploma, study-skills work, literacy, a library and learning resource centre, and the sixth form. Sixth-form study is part of the same 11-18 community rather than a separate brand, with routes into A levels, enrichment and leadership. The house system, Duke of Edinburgh and student leadership give the school a broader feel than the admissions label alone suggests.
Year 7 entry is through the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test, with 180 places. The standardised score is weighted 50% verbal skills, 25% mathematical skills and 25% non-verbal skills, and Buckinghamshire Council coordinates the testing timetable and secondary application process. The school's 2027 policy then applies priorities including looked-after status, catchment Pupil Premium, siblings, staff children, exceptional need, catchment residence and distance. Published measures include Ofsted Good, +0.70 Progress 8, 99.4% grade 5+ in English and maths and 27.8% AAB or better at A level.
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Buckinghamshire and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Buckinghamshire and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Buckinghamshire and England.
January 2025 school census
Whole-school roll of 1,271 pupils; 1,253 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian | 33.1% | Asian | 421 |
| Pakistani | 22.3% | Asian | 284 |
| White British | 15.6% | White | 198 |
| Any other Asian background | 7.8% | Asian | 99 |
| African | 5.3% | Black | 67 |
| Any other White background | 3.9% | White | 50 |
| White and Asian | 3.5% | Mixed | 45 |
| Any other ethnic group | 1.8% | Other | 23 |
| Any other mixed background | 1.5% | Mixed | 19 |
| Unclassified | 1.4% | Unclassified | 18 |
| Bangladeshi | 1.3% | Asian | 17 |
| Chinese | 0.9% | Asian | 11 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.6% | Mixed | 7 |
| White and Black African | 0.5% | Mixed | 6 |
| Any other Black background | 0.2% | Black | 3 |
| Caribbean | 0.2% | Black | 2 |
| Irish | 0.1% | White | 1 |
A school-specific 2027 admissions policy and contact route are available, but Buckinghamshire Council coordinates the transfer-testing timetable, the main application process, and the appeals guidance for Year 7 entry.
For September 2026 entry, all qualified applicants were offered through catchment, sibling and pupil-premium rules before distance-rule places reached 2.688 miles.
Looked after and previously looked after children
Highest priority goes to looked after and previously looked after children who qualify for grammar school entry.
Reserved lower-score places
Up to six places may go to eligible looked after or previously looked after children from anywhere, or to catchment pupil premium children scoring 115 to 120, as set out in the policy.
Catchment pupil premium children
Qualified pupil premium children living in catchment are considered before the general catchment and out-of-catchment groups.
Sibling priorities
Current siblings are ranked ahead of previous siblings.
Exceptional medical or social need
Children with exceptional medical or social needs are considered in the published criterion order.
Qualified children of staff
Qualified children of staff are given priority under the policy's staffing criterion.
The overall Secondary Transfer Test standardised score is weighted 50% verbal skills, 25% mathematical skills and 25% non-verbal skills.
Shared exam route
Burnham Grammar School uses the shared Buckinghamshire route. Use these common practice resources for the route, then check the full consortium guide for the complete set and current test guidance.
View all Buckinghamshire practice papersPaper 1
English, Verbal reasoning, Maths, Non-verbal reasoning
Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test
Two multiple-choice papers taken on the same day cover verbal skills, mathematical skills and non-verbal skills.
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning are included in the published format.
Science is not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
Two multiple-choice papers taken on the same day cover verbal skills, mathematical skills and non-verbal skills.
Non-verbal reasoning
Two multiple-choice papers taken on the same day cover verbal skills, mathematical skills and non-verbal skills.
Science
Registration opens
1 May 2026
PastRegistration closes
2 June 2026, Closes at 3pm
PastTest invitations sent
7 August 2026
Practice test
8 September 2026
Transfer test
10 September 2026
Results released
9 October 2026
CAF deadline
31 October 2026
Offer day
1 March 2027
Read the Burnham policy and Buckinghamshire testing guidance
Check the school policy and the Buckinghamshire Council transfer testing guidance before you register.
Open admissionsRegister for the Secondary Transfer Test
Buckinghamshire Council opens registration on 1 May 2026 and closes it at 3pm on 2 June 2026.
Open test guidancePrepare for the practice and transfer tests
The practice test is on 8 September 2026 and the main transfer test is on 10 September 2026.
Open familiarisation bookletSubmit your Common Application Form
List Burnham Grammar School on your CAF by 31 October 2026 after your child receives the test result.
Open Buckinghamshire guidanceSend any supporting evidence to the school
Provide any pupil premium, staff, or exceptional medical or social evidence to Burnham Grammar using the school's published admissions route.
Open school admissionsLatest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.
Recent trend
This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 74.8 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 70 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 69.9 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 70.1 | 72.3 | 46.8 |
Recent trend
This follows the published average A-level result for the school's sixth form. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | B+ average (42.4 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B- average (38.2 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B average (40.4 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B average (40.8 points) | 41.8 points | 35.0 points |
Recent trend
This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 98% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 100% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 99% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 98% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 97% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 1% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 7 December 2022
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar co-ed selective route
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar co-ed selective route
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar co-ed selective route
Same Buckinghamshire area and similar co-ed selective route
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Nearby option with similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Best Grammar Schools in Buckinghamshire
Compare 13 Buckinghamshire grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Buckinghamshire route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
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Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Best Grammar Schools in Buckinghamshire
Compare 13 Buckinghamshire grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Buckinghamshire route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking that can be filtered by county, school type, and Ofsted before moving into local admissions detail.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Burnham Grammar School currently uses GL Assessment.
1. Read the Burnham policy and Buckinghamshire testing guidance: Check the school policy and the Buckinghamshire Council transfer testing guidance before you register. 2. Register for the Secondary Transfer Test: Buckinghamshire Council opens registration on 1 May 2026 and closes it at 3pm on 2 June 2026. 3. Prepare for the practice and transfer tests: The practice test is on 8 September 2026 and the main transfer test is on 10 September 2026. 4. Submit your Common Application Form: List Burnham Grammar School on your CAF by 31 October 2026 after your child receives the test result. 5. Send any supporting evidence to the school: Provide any pupil premium, staff, or exceptional medical or social evidence to Burnham Grammar using the school's published admissions route.
Registration opens: 1 May 2026. Registration closes: 2 June 2026, Closes at 3pm. Test invitations sent: 7 August 2026. Practice test: 8 September 2026. Transfer test: 10 September 2026. Results released: 9 October 2026. CAF deadline: 31 October 2026. Offer day: 1 March 2027
Burnham Grammar School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 7 December 2022.